Earthworms are important to soil health, a fact every gardener knows. What some people may not be aware of though, is that digging and stirring soil can harm earthworm populations. The more often the earth is plowed, and the deeper, the worse its effects will be. Earthworms don’t just aerate the soil, their waste also contains helpful nutrients for plant growth. That’s why it may not be worth it to just blindly plow soil.

There are other forms of tillage which can reduce the harm to earthworms, and these methods need to become more commonplace. Around the world, they are being used more and more but American farmers must be made aware of the scientific research behind them. Healthier soil will lead to better crops and higher yields. Sign this petition for an awareness campaign for more environmentally friendly farming methods.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Mr. Perdue,

Most people may not care about earthworms, but gardeners and farmers should. Their tunnels help plant roots get air and water, and their waste contains several different helpful nutrients. The traditional methods of plowing are just too harmful to the worms and are leading to a decrease in their populations. This is especially notable in the larger worms that move between layers of soil, and the much smaller worms living near the top of the soil. No-tillage and shallow non-inversion tillage methods are much safer. The presence of earthworms in soil has even been scientifically shown to help increase crop yields by 25%.

Charles Darwin recognized the importance of the lowly earthworm, saying that they may have played the most important part in human history of any animal. There’s no reason why agriculture can’t be a mutually beneficial relationship for humans and the animals living underground. Please start an awareness campaign so farmers will know there are other options out there to prepare their soil, and the importance of protecting earthworms.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Holger Casselmann

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